Podcast: BlogHer talks to Calpernia Addams
by Suzanne Reisman

On May 21, I interviewed actress, author, and activist Calpernia Addams about body image, gender, and sexuality for BlogHer. Ms. Addams runs Deep Stealth Productions, Inc., with business partner Andrea James, producing media with an awareness of the truth and value of trans people's contributions to society.

(For more background, her hilariously informative YouTube video, "Bad Questions to Ask a Transsexual: The Director's Cut," is a must-see. The interview was thought-provoking and fun, and will hopefully open more dialog among the BlogHer community about how we think about gender, sexuality, and body image.


Listen to the podcast with this player:





Or, right click this link, BlogHer Podcast with Calpernia Addams, and save it to your computer.


Suzanne also blogs about life at Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants, about yogurt at Live Active Cultures, and about creating positive social change at Just Cause.

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman (view blog) on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:45

Comments

 

A wonderful role model...

Thanks Suzanne for this story.  Ms. Addams should be proud of her accomplishments.  I look forward to viewing the youtube video and following her many projects.  

Mara http://24stepstogo.blogspot.com/

Submitted by mara on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 03:30
 

Absolutely!

I'm grateful for the opportunity we had to host Calpernia at BlogHer. She offers a lot of interesting things to think about.

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 08:51
 

Also extending a warm round...

of thank yous!

Well done, Suzanne... very interesting interview. I'll have you know that is the second time I've ver sat through an audio of a transwoman speaking on things lgbt.

The first? Look on my blog, under lgbt issues, and look for Christina Jorgensen - that interview was in 1958.

If I may, moving to a specific element of the interview, on children.

A lot of my motivation for speaking and such on lgbt issues is with our young in mind, so they don't experience the crap we lived through.

That part of the discussion touched on the issue, and this is a point I like to keep on making. Parents, love your child. Listen to your child... but!

Don't follow advice like from those quacks they have revisiting the APA rules on tg issues. Don't strip or distill down who your child is. Don't deny them sensory input for the sake of making them into what your vision of what they should be. 

And don't lead them on. Don't ask questions like 'do you feel like a girl?' No! Shuddup and just love and listen. They will tell you, so long as you provide them with a framework to easily share of self. There is time later for what paths will need to be chosen. Just do the simple and attentive stuff, and you'll be doing fine.  

 

 

nelle

Submitted by nelle2nelle on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 16:04
 

The best parenting advice. Period.

I think that is about the best thing any parent can do. Fabulous advice, Nelle, and also thanks for the great questions that you submitted for the interview.

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 18:34
 

Good job

A very impressive and topical set of questions. And do check out the Scott Westerfeld book. There's actually a series of them, and they are quite famous. Scott's wife, Justine Larbalestier, has written a couple of books on feminism in science fiction, as well as doing YA books herself.

Cheryl http://www.cheryl-morgan.com/

 

Submitted by cherylmorgan on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 16:40
 

Calpernia Adams

As they say in the Navy.....BZ....Bravo Zulu...well done.  This lady has done much for others in the community and I wish her the best.  As a transwoman  myself..she has given me the courage to face up to the world as a woman.  She is also a very thoughtprovoking speaker and someon who has walked the walk as well as talked the talk.  I would hope she could become a frequent contributer here.

Submitted by JinianVictoria on Sat, 05/31/2008 - 11:35
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